Quality

Quality and responsibility – what the law says

Psychological interventions that involve taking a position on a person's health are covered by health and medical care legislation . This means that my work as a licensed psychologist is regulated by several central laws:

  • Health and Medical Services Act (HSL, SFS 2017:30)
  • Patient Safety Act (PSL, SFS 2010:659)
  • Act on Professional Activities in the Field of Health and Medical Services (LYHS) – this act was repealed in 2011, but several provisions have been transferred to the Patient Safety Act.
  • Patient Data Act (PDL, SFS 2008:355)
  • The Public Access and Secrecy Act (OSL, SFS 2009:400) – relevant in certain cases, also for private activities if information is requested by authorities.

These laws place high demands on quality, safety and documentation. You as a client should be able to trust that the methods I use are based on scientific basis and proven experience – not on speculative or frivolous approaches.

What is now Chapter 5 of the Patient Safety Act was previously called the “Quacksalverilagen” . It aims to protect patients from receiving care using unsafe or ineffective methods. When you turn to a licensed psychologist, you should be able to feel confident that the treatment meets professional standards.

Record keeping and confidentiality

Since psychotherapy is a health care service, there is a duty to keep records . This means that I need to keep records of our contacts – for your safety. Both you as a client and I as a caregiver need to be able to be identified. It is generally not permitted to provide anonymous care within licensed healthcare professions.

You always have the right to access your medical record and to request a copy. The medical record is only available to me and will not be shared with anyone else without your express consent.

The record is also not included in any central record system where other healthcare providers can read it.

The purpose of keeping records is to contribute to safe care and to enable follow-up of interventions. If something unexpected should occur that can be linked to the treatment, the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate (IVO) can request copies of records – but this is very unusual in psychotherapy.

Registered healthcare provider

My company is formally registered as a healthcare provider and is therefore under the supervision of IVO. This means, among other things, that I am obliged to:

  • comply with applicable legislation,
  • document my work according to the Patient Data Act,
  • work systematically with quality and patient safety,
  • be registered in IVO's healthcare provider register .

In the healthcare provider register, you can see whether a healthcare provider has received complaints for deficiencies in quality or safety.